I do not wish to spoil this ongoing series. This issue just hit the shelves of my LCS yesterday. It is another wide-sweeping universe-changing deal and I’m sure you can find better spoilers elsewhere in the internetsphere. I will say that so far I am pleased with the book. I still have faith in Geoff Johns and I look forward to the DCU more closely resembling “my” DCU (post-Crisis on Infinite Earths, pre-Infinite Crisis).

It was certainly good to see some of my old favorites again, including this happy little cameo:

Who is that standing with Black Canary? Why, it sure looks like the Modern Age Captain Atom…

I do believe that is Captain Atom! So what does this mean for the character? I honestly don’t know. It has been almost a year since we heard there may be a new Captain Atom series in the works. And this guy certainly isn’t the New 52 Captain Atom. There have been news reports of late that the Watchmen universe is being absorbed into the new DCU. Dr. Manhattan is the analog for Captain Atom. Given the similarities of the New 52 Cap and Dr. Manhattan, it would make sense to not have both of them running around at the same time. So it looks to me like maybe we’re getting the classic silver-skinned, time-jumping Captain Atom back!

If nothing else good comes from Rebirth, I’ll at least be happy if we get our old Cap back. Even happier if he gets an ongoing series.

This is a continuation of the story from Captain Atom #16 in which the Justice League was facing off against an angry Red Tornado (in hurricane form) and called Cap in for support. Available for sale April 5, 1988, this story featured Cap’s first real brush with elementals (at this point Firestorm was not yet solidly established as the fire elemental), and his introduction to the Black Racer. This book opens with what I feel is one of the greatest renderings of Cap ever to appear in print. Broderick, Smith, and Eiber did not fool around with this one. It is the Modern Age Captain Atom at his absolute best.

Absolutely beautiful artwork. Art like this is a big reason I loved Captain Atom in the 1980s. The only beef I have with the artwork is a minor one (Cap’s bruises from the fight with Major Force have miraculously faded away). I truly love the artwork of The One and Only Pat Broderick. Not sure I can get behind his dislike of cosplayers.

The storm declares Captain Atom is “less than nothing” to an elemental like him, and knocks Cap to the ground. Red Tornado threatens to scatter Cap’s atoms into the stratosphere. Cap warns him (with the Captain-Atom-is-mad-eye-flare) of the kind of damage he can do when he is angry. It is at this point that the swamp declares it has had enough. Vines creep up from the ground and pull Cap down. His Justice League team-mates Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Mr. Miracle, and Booster Gold find Captain Atom tangled up in the vines, unconscious.

Nate suddenly finds himself out of his metal skin (completely naked) in a grassy field with his deceased wife Angela. Angela is pulled away from him by an angry windstorm (Red Tornado) and Nate switches to his Captain Atom persona. In reality, Cap is on board the JLI shuttle, unresponsive. Beetle and Booster are trying to fly out of the storm while complaining about the rest of the League failing to show up.

Checking Cap’s vitals, Mr. Miracle makes a huge discovery. He learns that the metal exo-shell Cap wears is alien in origin. This contradicts the origin story Cap fed the media (“the lie”).

Back in Nate’s mind, Red Tornado and Captain Atom continue to battle. Tornado muses over Cap’s refusal to just die. Cap gives a sarcastic non-answer about the quantum field, and the two find themselves engulfed in a huge explosion. The turmoil around them suddenly dies down and they find themselves floating in non-space next to each other. Tornado has a fuzzy recollection of the two of them fighting.

Then their host shows himself.

It is Swamp Thing, the Earth elemental, who has brought the two together through the Green.

Booster Gold instructs Beetle to fly the shuttle to California. The JLI realizes no doctor can help Cap and they can’t stand idly by. They need a psychic, and since Martian Manhunter was a no-show, they’re paying a visit to Infinity Incorporated and Brainwave.

Back in Cap’s head (or whatever existential plane they are on), Swamp Thing explains they will not be able to return to their physical bodies until the three of them exist in total harmony. Meanwhile, a fourth entity makes an appearance in their crazy mindscape: an ominous aerial skier. Swamp Thing says this means they are running out of time.

Red Tornado explains that he does not think he can exist in harmony with Captain Atom as Cap is “one of them.” He says “they” are “polluters of the bio-sphere.” He goes on to explain that he once fought alongside humans (he was a member of the Justice League alongside Cap’s frenemy Firestom), even giving his life to them when the Justice League space station was destroyed (this was in Justice League of America (vol 1) Annual #3 [1985] – this actually marks Red Tornado’s return to the post-Crisis mainstream DCU). Rather than kill him, the explosion transformed Red into a being of wind. He watched man destroying Earth (abusing the bio-sphere) until he decided he’d seen enough and felt totally justified trying to destroy humanity.

Swamp Thing tells Red they are brothers. He quickly recounts his own origin story and how he became the Earth elemental.

Meanwhile, Captain Atom’s body has been taken to the headquarters of Infinity, Inc. where Brainwave, Jr. announces Cap is not in an ordinary coma. His “silver cord” is dangerously “over-extended.” Brainwave says he cannot help Cap unless he goes to him and promptly passes out. Mr. Miracle explains that Brainwave has used astral projection to enter Captain Atom’s mind.

Back in the astral world or whatever, Swamp Thing admits that he, too, once lost patience with humanity. He tells Red that he can learn to temper his fury with mankind as he did himself. Cap sees the skier in the skies again and decides to go and confront it but Swamp Thing erects a barrier and tells Cap not to go. Swamp Thing explains it is the Black Racer, a “pure elemental force who deals a fatal touch to his chosen victims with a single stroke.” And he’s gunning for Nathaniel Adam.

Like Red Tornado, this is the Black Racer’s first post-Crisis appearance. Created by Jack Kirby in 1971, the Black Racer’s corporeal form is that of bedridden Sgt. Willie Walker, who was paralyzed during the Vietnam War. Walker was contacted by the Source when Darkseid first brought the war of the gods to Earth, and told it was his responsibility to take on the role. The Racer makes use of what appear to be skis as his means of transport, much like how the Silver Surfer, another Kirby creation, uses a surfboard. New Gods are collected by the Racer at the moment of their deaths, and taken to Hadis (the Fourth World version of Hades). Thanks, Wikipedia.

Assuming they can not be harmed by the Racer’s touch (Red Tornado and Swamp Thing’s human bodies are dead), Red goes after the Black Racer. Swamp Thing leads Cap to a strange swirly mass that he senses is sanctuary, with Red not far behind. However, the Black Racer can not follow them in, leading Swamp Thing to believe the danger has passed for Nate.

Within the sanctuary, they come across Brainwave. Brainwave explains he is there to lead Nate back to Earth. Red Tornado leaves them, saying he has some deep thinking to do. Before Swamp Thing can leave, Cap poses a question to him: If the Earth elemental was born out of a violent explosion that killed Alec Holland, and the Wind elemental was born out of a violent explosion that killed John “Reddy” Smith, then what elemental was born out of the violent explosion that killed Nathaniel Adam? Swamp Thing tells Cap he’ll have to work that one out for himself.

The Black Racer makes one last grab for Captain Atom, but misses his mark when Cap and Brainwave find themselves in reality once again, surrounded by the Justice League. Captain Atom thanks Brainwave and leaves, much to Blue Beetle’s chagrin.

This is not the end of Captain Atom’s brushes with the Black Racer or Red Tornado. He and Red end up as allies and the Black Racer never gives up on catching Nathaniel Adam. The art of this issue is superb, truly Pat Broderick did not phone this one in. The story was pretty good as well, raising some really important questions about exactly WHAT Captain Atom really is. I give this issue an A.

This issue hit the stands on March 1, 1988. This issue featured Cap’s JLI friends and his first meeting with Red Tornado.

When this issue opens, General Eiling and Dr. Megala are looking at images of Captain Atom taking a beating from Major Force (from the last issue) and discussing whether or not Force should be reprimanded. Dr. Megala thinks he should be, but Eiling says that since Nate quit the Air Force, he had that beating coming to him. Megala warns that if the surveillance video of the fight ever gets out, it would be devastating to their project. Eiling says that isn’t a concern; he is having Allard wipe the tapes. He begins to wheel Megala out of his command room, but is intercepted by Babylon. Allard reports that Major Force is again under control as Babylon wheels Megala away, and Megala continues to beat himself up over the mess he’s gotten Nathaniel Adam into.

Back in his apartment, Nate has made the discovery that bruises acquired in his metal exo-shell also appear on his human non-super-hero face.

Nate is upset that he couldn’t stay away from Major Force and Dr. Spectro. Upon leaving his apartment (wearing dark sunglasses and a fedora to hide his bruises), Nate discovers an eviction notice on his apartment door. He pawns his watch for $375. As he walks home contemplating his bills, Nate discovers a business called “Mellow Yellows.” The sign outside declares it an “authentic 60s nostalgia outlet,” and that they buy and sell memorabilia.

Inside Mellow Yellows, two boys are arguing about the first astronaut to go up in a Gemini capsule. One says it was John Glenn, the other insists it was Gus Grissom. Nate cuts in and says it was actually Alan Shepard and that the model the two are arguing over is of a Mercury capsule, not Gemini. The owner of the business comes over and introduces herself as Starshine Stone. Nate introduces himself as Cameron Scott and asks how much she’ll give him for an authentic JFK keyring from the 1960 presidential campaign. She offers him $250 and then tells Nate if he can answer four more “vintage questions,” she’ll pay him double.

Of course, Nate wins the wager. After all, it was the 1960s just a year or so ago for him. After a little shameless flirting with Starshine, he leaves the store with his slightly-ill-gotten $500.

The story cuts to a couple of freaked-out meteorologists (probably at the National Weather Service). They are very worried about a storm brewing off the Eastern seaboard of the United States, from the Gulf of Mexico as far north as Washington, DC. Not only is the storm massive, but one of the meteorologists thinks it is alive. He warns his coworker that they must notify the Governor, the National Guard, and the Justice League.

At the JLI New York Embassy, Blue Beetle is on monitor duty when the warning comes through.

Beetle assembles the Justice League. Mister Miracle, Black Canary, and Booster Gold come running. The hurricane is somehow “saying” that it has a duty to cleanse the Earth. With Blue Beetle as acting leader, the JLI piles into the shuttle and heads towards the eye of the storm. As they approach, some relief workers on the ground who are busy piling sandbags hear the “voice of the storm.” It says, “I descend upon the Earth to rid it of the impurities which have tainted its skies for so long! For I am the elemental of the air!” This is the first mention of elementals in the pages of Captain Atom, and it is an important theme throughout the title’s run.

On the shuttle, Black Canary recognizes the voice of the storm as that of her old team-mate Red Tornado. She uses her sonic scream to communicate with the Red Tornado elemental/hurricane. In response, the storm blasts the shuttle, sending its occupants flying about the cabin. A giant cloud hand grabs the shuttle and places it on the ground outside the storm’s radius. The JLI emerges from the ship and the face of Red Tornado appears in the clouds and addresses them.

He warns that if they try and interfere again, he will kill them. Blue Beetle calls for backup, which means Cap’s pager goes off just as he is buzzing Peggy and Goz up to his apartment. He leaves his friend and daughter a hastily scrawled note of apology and jumps out the window on his way to the storm in Louisiana.

The JLI has their hands full saving civilians on the ground and have just about given up hope that their backup will arrive when Captain Atom arrives on the scene. They brief Cap on the situation and point out how dangerously close the storm is to the Langley Nuclear Reactor Plant. Beetle doesn’t believe Cap is up to the task of fighting Red Tornado (based on the bruises on his face), but Cap ignores him and flies towards the storm.

Red Tornado knocks Cap into the Gulf of Mexico, but the hero doesn’t stay down. He returns to the storm and begins circling it at a rapid speed. He draws energy from the quantum field to create a counter-vortex that deflects the storm from the path of the nuclear plant. The storm is diverted over a nearby swamp, where the battle is watched by an angry Swamp Thing.

To be continued next issue. So we have the earth elemental, the air elemental, and Captain Atom facing off in the next issue. It promises to be an epic battle.

This wasn’t a spectacular story. I do like Blue Beetle’s mistrust of Captain Atom for no particular reason that is hinted at in this story, though. I never cared much for Starshine Stone, either. I don’t know why she bugs me. I give it the story B-. But Pat Broderick and Bob Smith have knocked it out of the park again. A for art.

It is the crossover we’ve all been waiting for. Justice League International comes face to face with the Suicide Squad. Part one hit the stands on January 12, 1988. This had been building in the DC Universe, with Batman uncovering clues to the Suicide Squads existence for months. Once he discovered what they truly were (supervillains used by the government for covert ops in exchange for reduced sentences), he vowed to Amanda Waller to bring them down.

Tom Tresser, a.k.a. Nemesis, has been captured in the Soviet Union and has been held prisoner there. He’s been accused of attempting to kidnap a Russian dissident named Zoya Trigorin. The news has gone public, and Batman follows the story while on monitor duty at the New York JLI embassy. Batman knows Nemesis, and thinks he’s a “good man.” While on monitor duty, the dark knight was talking to himself, explaining to Oberon that it helps his thinking process. Oberon warns Black Canary to stay clear of Batman, as he’s acting a lot more weird than usual.

In a Washington, DC hotel room, Amanda Waller is shouting at Rick Flag via telephone. Amanda is the creator of the Suicide Squad and Rick Flag is the mission leader. Rick wants to take the Squad to the USSR to rescue Nemesis, but Waller warns him that the only reason the capture was publicized was to lure them to Russia. She orders him to stay at Belle Reve and not to go after his teammate. After Rick hangs up with Waller, Nightshade asks him what the plan is. Despite the fact that they are fully aware that this is a trap, Rick and Nightshade agree to go ahead with a rescue effort.

Back in New York, Batman is pumping Rocket Red #4 for information (his armor is mislabeled with a “13”). Dmitri says that just because he’s a Soviet citizen, that doesn’t mean he knows anything about Nemesis. He says if Batman’s friend is in prison there then he must have done something wrong.

At Belle Reve, Flag has assembled his team (Vixen, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, Javelin, Nightshade, and Duchess). There is a gratuitous and unnecessary shot of Nightshade’s buttcheek.

Flag takes the Squad to an airfield and briefs them on a plane bound for Russia. When Amanda Waller finds out what Rick has done, she goes immediately to meet with President Reagan in the White House. She suggests he sends the JLI to Russia to retrieve Nemesis. He agrees and Waller goes off to meet with Maxwell Lord.

At the JLI New York embassy, Batman is trying to convince Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, Oberon, Captain Atom, Black Canary, Mr. Miracle, Guy Gardner, Blue Beetle, and Rocket Red #4 to go after Nemesis (invade Russia – again). Oberon is upset that J’onn (Martian Manhunter, leader of the JLI) would even entertain the notion. His argument is interrupted by a call from Max, however, sending the JLI to Russia.

On the JLI shuttle en route to Russia, it is revealed that a team of super villains has banded together to attack the very prison that is holding Nemesis. The JLI all agree it is an unusual coincidence.

J’onn is on the video-phone with Boris Razumihin, the Russian bureau chief for the JLI. Martian Manhunter assures him the situation – and Guy Gardner – are under control. Guy has had problems in the Soviet Union in the past. When he hangs up with Martian Manhunter, Razumihin calls Gorbachev, reminded that Russia has super-heroes of their own.

In New York, at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Amanda Waller pays a visit to Max Lord. Lord is recovering from the events of the previous issue. She warns him that the JLI had better maintain the secrecy of the Suicide Squad and she hints that if Max doesn’t play along he might end up dead.

On the other side of the world, the Rocket Red Brigade is training when they receive orders and move out. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Red Star of the People’s Heroes meets with a Russian government official who warns him of the approaching heroes and villains. Red Star steals his car and drives off.

When the JLI reaches the prison, they enter the warden’s office and Batman gets right to bullying the warden, demanding to see Nemesis.

The warden says he’s under orders that no one is to see Nemesis. He also says he thought the Justice League was there to protect them from the villains. The warden receives a call and then agrees to take the JLI to Nemesis. Rocket Red #4 reveals that he radioed his government connections and convinced them to allow the JLI access. As they head to Nemesis’ cell (with Batman griping about J’onn’s leadership abilities), the Suicide is slipping into the prison via the loading docks. Upon reaching the cell, the JLI finds Nemesis unconscious on the floor. Batman suggests he was beaten and demands that the cell be opened. Rocket Red #4 says there’s no way he was beaten and he will not open the cell. J’onn warns Batman if he doesn’t cease his arrogant, juvenile behavior, he’ll be booted out of Russia and the League. Batman agrees (after a dramatic pause) and asks Martian Manhunter what their next step should be. This is when the Suicide Squad appears, facing the JLI.

In New York, Max warns Amanda that even though the situation is bad for the Suicide Squad, it can always get worse. The Rocket Red Brigade is 60 minutes away from the prison and Red Star is ten miles away. To be continued (erroneously, it says the story is to be picked up in the pages of Suicide Squad #10 but it was actually continued in #13)…

At the time, I was reading both Justice League International and Suicide Squad, so I was super excited about this crossover. Not a lot happened in this issue, as it was merely setting up the conflict that would happen in the next issue of Suicide Squad. I give this an A- for story and a B for art (after all these years, I still go back and forth on what I think about Keith Giffen’s talent).

“Battle Lines”

Writer: John Ostrander

Pencils: Luke McDonnell

Inks: Bob Lewis

Colors: Carl Gafford

Letters: Todd Klein

Cover Art: Steve Leialoha & Al Gordon

Part two of this crossover, cover dated the same month as Justice League International #13, was released to the public on February 2, 1988. It picks up where Justice League International #13 left off, with the Justice League face-to-face with the Suicide Squad in the corridors of a Russian prison. Ostrander really seemed to have a thing for Russia. He introduced Mikhail Arkadin (Pozhar) when he was writing The Fury of Firestorm, and Soviet-era hero-team Rocket Red Brigade were featured in the Ostrander-written Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special #1. With the Suicide Squad blundering beyond the iron curtain (not for the first time, either), it looks like John Ostrander was DC’s go-to guy for Russian super-hero stories. At the time these were published, I didn’t really care for the Russian stories so much. Looking back now, I really like them. They serve as a reminder of how it was growing up during the Cold War and being afraid of the Communists, building them up in my mind as something far more efficient and sinister than they really were. As much as I disliked the Russian angle, I was a huge John Ostrander fan in the mid-80s. I just about exploded with joy when he started writing Captain Atom, but that joy was short-lived (the series was cancelled just a few issues into Ostrander’s run). Although I still don’t like some of the stuff he’s written, I think it is safe to say I’m still a John Ostrander fan.

Rick Flag warns his people that they will push through the Justice League if they have to. Rocket Red #4 (Dmitri Pushkin) warns everyone that he’s gotten word that the People’s Heroes, Red Star, and the Rocket Red Brigade are on their way. Duchess recognizes Mr. Miracle but doesn’t know from where she knows him (Duchess is actually Lashina – one of the Female Furies – with amnesia). When she approaches Miracle, Blue Beetle intercepts and flips her. She begins tearing the prison apart (tearing down the door to Nemesis’ cell) and using the pieces as weapons.

Batman shames Deadshot, who turns his back on the dark knight. Martian Manhunter confronts Vixen – a former member of the Justice League. He is surprised to find her hanging out with super-villains. After some heated words, he hugs her. Captain Boomerang attempts to burst Guy Gardner’s protective energy bubble. Captain Atom and Nightshade exchange some unfortunate dialogue.

“We’re supposed to be boyfriend/girlfriend,” Cap says. What is he, a junior high student? “Stick close to me in this rhubarb.” Rhubarb? Why did he…? Who calls super hero fights “rhubarbs?” Is it supposed to make him sound hokey and old-fashioned? That makes sense, actually. He’s displaced from his own time. Like DC Comic’s own Captain America. Still, I’ve never heard “rhubarb” used this way.

Flag confronts Batman, asking him if his team can just get Nemesis and get out, before things get out of hand. Batman refuses. He tells Flag that he warned Amanda Waller against using villains. Bats also says that if Nemesis truly is a member of the Suicide Squad, he’s not the Nemesis Bats once knew. When Batman begins to walk away, Flag grabs him to stop him. Bats punches him and they begin to brawl. Meanwhile, Blue Beetle and Duchess are still facing off, but Beetle refuses to hit her. Mr. Miracle dodges Deadshot’s attack while Black Canary wonders why these villains and heroes have teamed up again (she faced the Suicide Squad once before). She pauses trading jabs with Bronze Tiger long enough to learn he won’t explain his team to her.

Dmitri enters Nemesis’ cell to question him (he is incorrectly drawn with a number 7 on his armor again). Nemesis explains that he was attempting to help the author Zoya Trigorin escape Russia (defect, I guess). Javelin and Booster Gold face off against each other. This is particularly interesting because of the similarity in their costumes.

Meanwhile, back in the United States, Amanda Waller is still visiting Max Lord’s hospital room. Waller is upset because the JLI is supposed to be in Russia only as backup for the Suicide Squad, the existence of which they are unaware of (most of them at least; clearly Captain Atom and Batman know of the Suicide Squad). But the JLI is butting heads with her team. She tries to convince Max to pull them out, but Max Lord reveals he knows a lot of Amanda Waller’s dirty secrets. She threatens to break his foot and Max calls for his nurse.

Back in the USSR, the People’s Heroes, the Rocket Red Brigade, and Red Star are closing in on the JLI/Suicide Squad fast. Back at the prison, Blue Beetle is doing his level best to bring down Duchess while Captain Atom and Nightshade take part in a little foreplay. Seriously, get a room you two.

In another secluded corner (does this prison have no guards?), J’onn and Vixen are still making peace with each other. Dmitri approaches them with Nemesis and says the JLI and Suicide Squad must work together to save Nemesis. While Dmitri feels Nemesis’ jailing was warranted, he knows the Russian government will treat the prisoner unfairly and have him killed.

The two teams stop fighting each other. Deadshot was apparently about to blow Mr. Miracle’s head off. He actually pulls the triggers when Bronze Tiger tells him to stand down. Luckily, Mr. Miracle seems to have the ability to dodge bullets. Now, that’s miraculous.

Batman and Rick Flag are still working out their differences with their fists when the truce is called. Justice Leaguers and Suicide Squaders alike tell the men to stand down, but no one steps between Flag and Bats. Would you? Finally, after Batman loses a bat-ear, Bronze Tiger and Blue Beetle pull them apart. Flag is well beaten, and can barely walk. Nightshade opens one of her portal thingies and the Suicide Squad leaves. Before they leave, Nightshade plants a kiss on Nemesis, which bugs Cap.

*

When the People’s Heroes, Red Star, and the Rocket Red Brigade show up at the prison, the Justice League informs them they’ll be taking Nemesis into custody. Martian Manhunter explains that the JLI’s charter and agreement with the Russian government gives them the right to take Nemesis with them. Back in the U.S., Max is threatening to sue Amanda (for her assault on him a few pages back). They are interrupted by a special news report explaining what has happened in Russia. Max’s only concern is that J’onn granted a (brief) interview with the press. Later, at the “JLI vehicle hangar,” Batman expresses his displeasure with the current incarnation of the Justice League and quits. No surprise there; Batman really doesn’t fit in with them anyway.

At Belle Reve, Flag is taken off to the infirmary. Captain Boomerang is happy that for once two people he hates beat the hell out of each other instead of himself.

*

This two-parter did a thing that happens in comics that I really dislike. After all that set-up, while we’re getting ready for an all-out throw-down between all these super powers, something happens at the last second and the fight is avoided. Aside from that, it was fairly well-written (even if Cap was mostly just in the background) and well-drawn. I am a fan of Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and John Ostrander as writers, and Luke McDonnell did a fine job as well. I give these two issues a combined A-.

The Weird was a four-issue mini-series featuring the Justice League. Although text within issue #1 indicated that the series took place prior to Justice LeagueInternational #7, Captain Atom is on the team (he was added to the team at the end of Justice League International #7).

The mini-series opens with Superman on a Metropolis rooftop, surveying the city. At street level, an overcoated man walks to his dreary apartment building in the rain. The name on his door reads “Jason Morgan.” Inside, he removes his coat and sits on the bathroom floor. He has strange green crystalline growths all over his body. Yellow energy rings appear before him as he says, “Soon the bridge will be completed, my friends.” He conjures up a red crystal, out of which a white orb flies as it crumbles apart. The orb shoot out of the apartment, creating a massive explosion in the sky.

Superman notes that no damage was done and he flies in the investigate further. He finds the white orb, which he calls a star. It changes shape into a ribbon and Superman touches it. With another explosion, Superman is thrown back three miles. When he returns to the ribbon, Captain Atom and Martian Manhunter are on the scene.

Thirty minutes later, the military arrives. By now most of the Justice League is on the scene (Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Dr. Fate, Blue Beetle, Black Canary, and Batman).

Onboard Blue Beetle’s Bug, Batman and a Dr. Yamada are collecting data on the ribbon, which the doctor says will take months to collate. Outside, Cap says the thing shouldn’t even exist (as it is pure energy it should have dispersed with no form to hold it together). Dr. Fate says it does have a mystical quality, and Guy Gardner uses his ring as a “deep probe” to try and get more info. Guy overdoes it with the green juice, which causes the ribbon to let out an explosion of energy and black out the city. Martian Manhunter and Captain Atom quickly catch the crashing Bug.

From a nearby rooftop, the heroes watch the ribbon split into two parts and rush off into different directions. Superman follows one and Martian Manhunter follows the other. Superman fails at catching the thing as it flies into a genetic research lab. It passes through “genetic fluids” before entering a computer, where it seems to be gathering data. It launches out of the computer and flies off with Superman on it’s tail.

Meanwhile, at a funeral home across town, Martian Manhunter has followed the other energy ball into a funeral service. The energy goes into the casket, making the dead man inside vanish.

The two energy balls return to the site of the original ribbon and combine. The resulting explosion causes a nearby building to crumble. When Guy goes to stop the falling debris, he is beaten to the punch by the ribbon. In an effort to contain anymore explosions, Guy surrounds the ribbon with an energy bubble. The heroes watch as inside a human creature is created. It emerges onto a nearby rooftop, dressed like some sort of a ninja, and collapses.

An hour later at S.T.A.R. Labs, Dr. Yamada discovers that the creature’s body is filled with clear fluid rather than blood. Using his x-ray vision, Superman learns that none of the creature’s organs are fully formed, but are “sculpting” themselves while it sleeps. Also it has an unstable, alien molecular structure. Superman thinks it is a living, possibly Earth-threatening atomic bomb. Blue Beetle dubs the creature “the Weird,” and Guy Gardner offers to take it off the planet. Superman rushes off to save the passengers of a crashing plane. As soon as he is gone, the Weird wakes up.

When Martian Manhunter offers his arm and suggests the Weird get more rest, the creature shoves him back into a wall. Batman orders Guy to contain the Weird with his ring, but the creature simply walks out of the green energy bubble. Blue Beetle and Captain Atom throw themselves at the Weird, but he becomes intangible and they crash into each other. Guy encases it in a denser energy cube, but it breaks free in an explosion that takes out most of the lab.

Captain Atom, Dr. Fate, Martian Manhunter, and Batman take the fight to the rooftops in an attempt to contain the Weird. Seeing that physical attacks clearly do not affect the Weird’s molecular instability, Martian Manhunter lays on an ultimately ineffectual smackdown. Even Dr. Fate’s mystic powers have no effect on the creature. Their efforts are in vain, and the Weird explains that his kind are excellent manipulators of energy. Cap decides to fire quantum blasts at the thing anyway.

The Weird knocks Captain Atom out cold and escapes by passing through the walls of the building. He finds himself at the apartment of Jason Morgan the fellow from the opening of this issue. The apartment is vacant, leaving the Weird time for another task, in the Metropolis suburb of Inglewood. He returns to the home of “Walt,” the man whose body he has reanimated. In the back yard or the house, he approaches Walt’s son Billy, who instantly recognizes the disfigured face as his father’s.

And this ends the first issue. Lots of questions and few answers.

“Questions!”

Writer: Jim Starlin

Pencils & Inks: Bernie Wrightson & Dan Green

Colors: Michelle Wrightson

Letters: Todd Klein

The second issue opens back at S.T.A.R. Labs, where TV reporter Lance Armstrong (I know, right?) is attempting to interview Superman in the Weird’s aftermath. Superman gives a summary of the previous issue, but Lance turns his words around on him, saying Supes thinks he can succeed where the Justice League failed. Guy Gardner insults Superman, but the man of steel turns that into an opportunity to insult Guy before flying away.

Back at Walter Langley’s house, his wife wonders what the Weird’s connection to her dead husband is – if any. Checking on her son Billy, she sees he has wandered away from the backyard of their home.

Billy, meanwhile, is riding on the Weird’s back as they fly to the beach. The Weird explains to Billy that, while he has all of Walter Langley’s memories, he is not actually the boy’s dead father. He displays his powers for Billy (flight, super-strength, the ability to become intangible, and the ability to affect any source of energy he’s in direct contact with). In an effort to explain what he truly is, the Weird taps directly into Billy’s brain. The two find themselves in an alternative dimensional reality, which the Weird explains is his home. He identifies a glowing red orb as a Macrolatt, the dominant life form of this reality (although he himself is not one). They are immensely powerful and ruthless beings.

The Weird explains he is a Zarolatt, white orb beings which possess great stores of energy but not the ability to use it. The Macrolatts are tapping the energy of the Zarolatts, killing the peaceful creatures. The Weird himself was being used by a Macrolatt that was attempting to cross over into Billy’s reality (the DC Universe). The Macrolatts found a man they called “the Jason” (Jason Morgan from the first issue) and convinced him to betray his people and allow the Macrolatts to cross over.

Jason’s physical form was slightly altered to that of a half-man, half-crystal entity. He created the crystalline anchor that would stabilize the bridge between worlds. Hungering for the “freedom” that Billy’s world would offer him, the Weird crossed the bridge before any of the Macrolatts could make it across. He came face-to-face with the Jason and fled. The Weird chose Walter’s body as a containment vessel because he would have killed any living creature he tried to possess. He found he could utilize all the dormant abilities that were denied to him as a Zarolatt. He explains he must face the Jason again and stop him from reopening the bridge. The Macrolatts, if they manage to cross over, will destroy Billy’s world.

Back in Metropolis, Jason Morgan returns home singing “Waltzing Matilda” to himself. He begins to talk to himself (perfectly normal behavior in a comic book), and reveals he has killed a woman named Matilda Gatsby. He sets out to reopen the bridge.

Superman, still searching for the Weird, gives up in the city and heads north to check the suburbs. Meanwhile, in the suburbs, the Weird is dropping Billy off at home. The Weird explains it would be best if Billy didn’t tell his mother who/what he was with. Flying away, the Weird admits to himself that his molecular structure is unstable, just as Batman warned him in the last issue. He knows he is a dangerous ticking time-bomb. He bumps into Superman, and the two land on a nearby rooftop to have a chat.

The Weird says he can’t leave Earth like Superman wants. He doesn’t explain why. Superman punches him, which doesn’t even stagger the Weird. The Weird punches back, surprising Superman with his strength. The Weird takes off and Superman gives chase. They stop the chase briefly to beat each other, but the two are evenly matched. The Weird takes off again and Supes chases. In the basement of an abandoned apartment building, the Weird pushes some supporting beams aside and brings the whole building down on the man of steel. In the confusion, the Weird slips away.

Lance Armstrong shows up at the scene (via his news van – not a bicycle) and attempts to get a comment from Superman. Superman does not indulge Lance and flies away. Then the Weird emerges from the ground below, explaining that he had been directly under Superman the whole time. He tells Lance that Superman and his friends think he is so unstable he will destroy the world. He flies away, but Batman is nearby and watches him.

Back at Jason Morgan’s apartment, just as he is conjuring up the bridge, the Weird appears in his bathroom with him. So ends the second issue. Captain Atom was only in this issue for one panel.

“Confrontation”

Writer: Jim Starlin

Pencils & Inks: Bernie Wrightson & Dan Green

Colors: Michelle Wrightson

Letters: Todd Klein

The third issue opens with Billy Langley summing up the previous two issues to his dog (cleverly – or weirdly – named “Ptang”). Meanwhile, in Jason Morgan’s apartment bathroom, the Weird and the Jason are facing off. For a Justice League story, this mini-series sure hasn’t featured the Justice League much.

Back in Jason Morgan’s place, he and the Weird are throwing down, smashing the place to hell. The Jason flings energy blasts which the Weird easily deflects. From a neighboring apartment rooftop, the Justice League watches the battle. Batman followed the Weird here and summoned his team-mates. Guy Gardner wants to go down for a closer look, but Dr. Fate stops him. Guy, hot-head that he is, ignores Dr. Fate and Batman’s warning and dives in.

Jason conjures a cube-shaped shield around his apartment which prevents Guy from entering and also destroys to top half of the building. Batman sends Dr. Fate, Captain Atom, and Martian Manhunter to protect the “civilians” while he catches the unconscious Guy.

While Batman ponders a way to get into the cube, the Jason and the Weird continue their confrontation within. The Weird tells Jason he doesn’t want to use force against him because he knows Jason was duped by the Macrolatts, but he will resort to force if he has to. He takes Jason by the neck. Borrowing a page from Barry Allen’s book, Jason vibrates the molecules of air around the Weird, stunning him. He encases the Weird in a “particle beam encasement” bubble.

Jason begins to reopen the portal while the Weird, helpless in the bubble, pleads with him to stop. He tries to play to Jason’s humanity, but Jason says that will do no good. He says he is turning on his own species because “life sucks.”

Outside, Dr. Fate, Batman, Black Canary, and Blue Beetle discuss the cube and their inability to penetrate it (Guy is down for the count with a bandage on his head). Batman fears what is going on within, saying they really don’t have enough infor on the Weird to understand his motives.

Within the cube, Jason tells the Weird his tale of woe. Named after the Jason of Greek mythology, he witnessed his father’s suicide by hanging at the age of four. His mother became an abusive alcoholic and was murdered by a boyfriend with a razor. He was sent to a Dickensian orphanage where he had to fight the other children and did poorly in school. He was kicked out of the orphanage at the age of fifteen because of “a little trouble [he] got into with a girl.” He drifted through a series of menial jobs that he always got fired from and ended up a dirty homeless beggar. Trying to clean up his act to attract women, he got a job with the city of Metropolis as a sanitation worker (or “garbage man,” as we used to call them when we were kids”. He didn’t mind the labor, but hated dealing with all the city’s trash. Still unlucky with the ladies, he assaulted a woman and was thrown in prison. Upon his release, he went back to work on the garbage truck and spiraled into alcoholism like his mother. Then he began to have strange dreams. It was the Macrolatts contacting his subconscious, preparing him for their coming. They altered his physiology and promised him that when they took Earth, he would become the king of humanity.

The Weird warns Jason that he has been misled. The Macrolatts will kill him as soon as they cross over. Jason doesn’t believe him and lashes out. The Weird continues to try and convince Jason the Macrolatts are bad. The Justice League continues to try and breach the cube. Jason continues to build the bridge.

Believing that it is the only way, the Weird determines to force his unstable body to go critical. It will kill him and Jason, and the entire city of Metropolis to boot. Two Macrolatts emerge from the portal just as the Weird explodes. Somehow, the cube contains the blast, the Weird and Jason both survive (the explosion must not have been created by the Weird reaching critical mass), and the Justice League witnesses the two Macrolatts fleeing the scene.

The Macrolatts speed off at twice the speed of light, making it impossible for the Justice League to give chase. The Weird crushes the crystal Jason used to build the bridge. Realizing Jason was a twisted, misunderstood pawn of creatures he didn’t understand, the Weird give him a low-grade disruptive charge through his cerebral cortex, putting Jason’s mind at ease before snapping his neck. Upon his death, the cube vanishes and the Justice League converges on the remains of the apartment. They find the Weird standing over Jason’s dead body.

The two Macrolatts, rejuvenated by lightning over the ocean, return to Metropolis to seek host bodies. One of them finds Superman and merges with him. The other flies to Los Angeles, California. Finding the headquarters of Infinity, Inc., it merges with Nuklon. Back at Jason’s apartment, the Weird tries to explain he did not murder Jason Morgan.

The Weird realizes the Justice League won’t listen to him; they’ve made up their minds. As he tries to leave, he is knocked out cold by Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz was invisible the whole time). When Batman orders Guy to take the Weird off-world, the two Macrolatts appear (in the bodies of Nuklon and Superman) and say they’ll deal with him.

“Armageddon”

Writer: Jim Starlin

Pencils: Bernie Wrightson

Inks: Dan Green

Colors: Michelle Wrightson

Letters: Todd Klein

At last, the climactic conclusion. Batman slaps the Weird awake and demands an explanation. The Justice League have found themselves in combat against Superman and Nuklon’s Macrolatt-possessed bodies.

The Weird gives Batman the four-panel summation of the past three issues. Things look grim for the world, as Superman and Nuklon have not only all their original powers, but the powers of the Macrolatts as well. Black Canary is knocked out and Batman carries her to safety as the Weird explains to him how the Macrolatts made it to this world. The Justice League suddenly learns they are powerless against this duo.

The Weird tells Batman that fighting the Macrolatts is pointless and he won’t take any part in it. Batman insults him and jumps into the battle. In an attempt to “short out” a Macrolatt, he pokes Superman with an exposed live electrical cable. Superman seems injured, but not stopped. He breaks Batman’s arm. Apparently thinking Batman isn’t worth his time and effort, Superman flies to Nuklon’s aid as he struggles to take down Captain Atom, the last Justice League member still standing. They dispatch Nate with ease.

With the Justice League utterly defeated, the Weird bows down to the Macrolatts. They two evil beings begin to burn Metropolis, feeding off the life energy of the matter (and people) they destroy. At the scene, Lance Armstrong reports that it appears the world is coming to an end.

The Weird begs the two to stop. He says he can help their efforts. Batman tries to stop him, but he bitch slaps the dark knight. The Weird tells the Macrolatts they need to utilize the intellect of their host bodies as well as the power. Nuklon blasts at the Weird for his “insolence.” Superman takes a piece of nearby building and throws it at the Weird. The Zarolatt becomes intangible and the debris coasts harmlessly through him. Nuklon is taken aback by this but Superman isn’t. The Weird warns them that heir host bodies are susceptible to illness. He tells them they need to reach out and merge with them, as Zarolatts are meant to serve Macrolatts. The two buy it, and fly towards the Weird.

Reaching into Nuklon and Superman, the Weird pulls the Macrolatts out. The two previously-possessed heroes drop to the ground as the Weird tells his captives he would never allow them to harm this world. Holding one in each hand, he appears to squash the life out of the Macrolatts.

The next morning, back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Superman indicates that the Weird is still unstable and will still reach critical mass. He will expire in less than two days. The Justice League have been unable to d anything to reverse the process. He says he will leave Earth before that time comes, but asks the Justice League to help him with two things first.

Superman and Guy fly over the ocean with the Weird. As the Weird begins to build something, the heroes leave him, vowing to return the next morning with Walter’s wife and son. The Justice League returns the next day with Billy, finding what appears to be a pirate ship constructed of Earth. Superman explains that Walter’s wife wouldn’t come – that she felt she couldn’t handle it. Billy finds the whole thing extremely awesome.

The Weird has a heart-to-heart discussion with Billy, explaining that he will have to leave again and he will die. Billy is saddened by this, begging his father to stay. The Weird says he can not stay, but will leave this odd island for Billy to visit and remember him. Martian Manhunter takes Billy home.

Superman and Guy take the Weird to a distant part of space, a light year away from any inhabited world. They say their good-byes and leave Walter to his fate. Guy and Superman watch the massive explosion from a safe distance, tearing up as they do so. The two fly back to Earth. Thus ends The Weird mini-series.

I didn’t like The Weird when it was first published. From the first page, I took issue with the continuity error. Captain Atom was not a member of the Justice League when this was supposed to have taken place. And if it took place at the time it was published, Guy Gardner’s personality was wrong. It still gives me a headache to think about it. I can be such a nerd about continuity. Plus, I never liked the name of the hero, “the Weird.” Frankly, I thought it was stupid (the name). And the Justice League were completely superfluous to the story. This is a C story at best. The art, on the other hand, was definitely “A” material. I really like the way Wrightson and Green drew Captain Atom in particular, even if he didn’t grace the pages much. I’d say The Weird is worth checking out for the art alone. Just don’t expect the story to blow your mind.

Max Lord summons Martian Manhunter and Captain Atom to his office. He was somehow under the impression that Superman, Hawkman, and Green Lantern Hal Jordan had joined the ranks of the Justice League. J’onn explains to Max that those heroes had only lent a hand during the Manhunter crisis and have since moved on. This angers Max, who says he needs “prime heroes – not a bunch of weak-kneed second-stringers.”

Max regains his composure and says he needs help from the most powerful heroes. He says a super-villain is after him. Somewhere else, someone is secretly watching the meeting in Max’s office on a wall of monitors. Ominous.

In the New York Embassy, Black Canary is showing the new Rocket Red (#4) around. He is replacing the last Rocket Red JLI member (#7), who turned out to be a Manhunter. He cracks wise with Canary, and reveals to her that he lost a tooth when she kicked him in the face (in Justice League #3). Oberon notifies them of an alert from Captain Atom and Martian Manhunter, so Black Canary and Rocket Red (who asks to be called “Dmitri”) head there.

The Justice League heads for Max’s building in their shuttle. Blue Beetle warns Mr. Miracle against any further roof-landings while Rocket Red and Green Lantern Guy Gardner get to know each other. Booster Gold complains of an upset stomach from the League teleporters, and proceeds to vomit in the shuttle. What a team.

As they approach the building, the JLI shuttle is fired upon by heat-seeking missiles. Mr. Miracle and Blue Beetle evade the missiles by crashing the shuttle into Max’s building (What, was Guy too busy chatting with Dmitri to do a little creative ring work?). The team manages to survive the crash without taking out any civilians. While working out their next step, they are surprised to see Captain Atom fighting some sort of artificial intelligence.

Batman takes charge (mere seconds after he pointed out that Black Canary was in command on this mission), ordering Guy Gardner to neutralize the robot tentacles with his ring. When the tentacles go for Batman, Black Canary knocks them back with her sonic scream. Batman is chagrined by her rescue. As Rocket Red blasts the robot tentacles, Mr. Miracle discovers they are being controlled from within the building. Black Canary orders Guy to use his ring to create a power surge in the building’s electrics. As a result, the tentacles – and the entire building – lose power.

Meeting up with Captain Atom and Martian Manhunter, the JLI learns that the building attacked them without provocation. Max Lord explains that the building’s computer system was taken over by an outside force that is out to get him. The team thinks Max is being paranoid, but don’t deny that something is going on with the Lord Building. Batman suspects the enemy may be the Construct, a “nearly invincible computer mind capable of controlling every electronic device on the planet” that the old Justice League defeated once before.

Searching a nearby mountainside for the source of the power emanations controlling the Lord Building, the JLI is attacked by a giant robot – the Construct. The Construct swings at the shuttle, spouting standard-revenge-against-the-Justice-League crap. The shuttle dodges the giant robot, and Captain Atom deploys with Guy Gardner, Booster Gold, and Martian Manhunter.

Captain Atom – boob that he is in this series – tries a battle cry or two. He keeps getting shut down by Martian Manhunter. It is funny and goofy but actually makes a lot of sense. At this point in Nate’s personal continuity, he has only just become a legit superhero and not just a government agent posing as a superhero. He’s trying to fit in, right?

Somewhere else, the battle is being watched on a bank of monitors (which reveal even what is happening inside the shuttle) and commented upon by someone off-panel. The order is issued for the Construct to return to base. Someone else (also off-panel) discovers the bank of monitors and exclaims, “What is going on here?”

Realizing the Construct went down to easily, the JLI follows it. Meanwhile, the monitors are revealed to be in a huge underground complex. Someone sitting on a floating chair with his back to the reader appears to be having a conversation with the giant computer. The computer says it is being used, forced to aid someone in their plans of world domination (which includes making android duplicates of world leaders). The computer called floaty-chair in to help it because it has been turned into a slave.

The Construct crashes in through the well, saying, “Master, help me.” Floaty-chair seems surprised, as does the Justice League (the Construct was always a sentient entity and had no “master”). They follow it into the mountainside secret base only to be confronted by the New God Metron (floaty chair guy).

To be continued next issue…

No backup story in this issue. Cap was given some good goofy lines. The whole thing is just set-up for the next issue. It isn’t as fun as JLI usually was, but by no means a stinker. It was a popular book at the time and it prominently featured Captain Atom, so I loved it. Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire were certainly churning out some great, fun books in the 80s. A sold “A.”

“Who is Maxwell Lord?”

Writers: Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis

Pencils: Kevin Maguire

Inks: Al Gordon

Colors: Gene D’Angelo

Letters: Bob Lappan

The issue opens with Metron explaining to the Justice League that his knowledge is his power. Time and Space are his kingdoms to rule. And he is very angry. He says the Justice League has violated the sanctity of his “Earthly chambers” and damaged his “information retrieval unit.” Blue Beetle is indignant, but Mr. Miracle cuts him off and tells Beetle to let him do the talking. Captain Atom thinks Metron is powering up to attack and blasts him. Mr. Miracle tackles Cap, saying he doesn’t know what he’s dealing with, that Mr. Miracle himself is the only one who knows what they’re dealing with.

Metron, completely nonplussed by Cap’s attack, asks Mr. Miracle who these fools he’s surrounded himself with are. Captain Atom, insulted, wants to attack Metron again. Metron wants to “explain” some “universal truths” to Cap. The other Leaguers stand between Metron and Captain Atom to protect their comrade. Metron begins to attack while Miracle desperately tries to cool the god off. He reveals to all those present that he is the son of Highfather – one of Jack Kirby’s “New Gods,” and ruler of New Genesis. Whatever computer entity is monitoring this did not know that Miracle was from New Genesis (technically he was from Apokolips and was raised by Darkseid). Metron says he was summoned to this place (I guess it is like his Earth “outpost”) by the machinery itself crying out in pain and terror. He says that prior to the JLI’s arrival, he felt the machine’s sentience.

There is a quick cut-scene involving the Global Guardians. Green Flame and Icemaiden are collecting their paychecks. They learn the Guardians have lost their United Nations funding and this is their final paycheck. Tuatara and Dr. Mist are also present. Later, Green Flame and Icemaiden show up at the nearest JLI embassy and apply for membership. Back in the States, Metron has destroyed the machinery after learning the consciousness has fled. He follows the Justice League shuttle in his Mobius Chair. Mr. Miracle manages to make a pretty decent Star Trek joke as they fly after the fleeing intelligence.

Back at the Lord Building, Max is beating himself up for sending his team into a trap. He’s wondering what’s he’s become (nothing compared to what he will become in a few years) when a dead body falls out of his closet. It is Ms. Wootenhoffer, Max’s personal assistant and Manhunter agent that was killed in Justice League International #9. Max’s computer reveals it killed her, and that Metron has destroyed it’s “home unit.” It recommends that it uploads itself into NORAD’s mainframe. The computer knows Metron is on his way and must work quickly if it is to succeed in taking over the world. Max, finally growing a conscience, begins to rip the machine apart. The computer reminds Max of the spelunking accident which took the life of his old CEO the day they stumbled into Metron’s lab. It reminds him of how they took over the business world together and amassed a great wealth. It reminds him of how they worked together to make a new Justice League, to “save the world from itself.” It reminds him of how it manipulated the Royal Flush Gang into fighting the Justice League and how it used satellites to attack Rumaan Harjavti’s Bialya (in Justice League #4 and Justice League #7, respectively). Max says he remembers, and that (even though the machine had been keeping him alive since Ms. Wootenhoffer shot him) he has had enough. Max destroys the machine.

At the moment the machine “dies,” Metron senses it. He bids Mr. Miracle farewell and flies away. Back in his office, Max begins to bleed from his gunshot wounds. He collapses. The following day, Mr. Miracle and Oberon visit with Max’s doctor at the hospital he was admitted to. He says Max was lucky the JLI found him when they did, otherwise Max may have died. Oberon says he believes Max “has the right stuff,” and Mr. Miracle says Max isn’t being kicked out. Martian Manhunter scanned Max’s mind and decided not to punish him (this is problematic for events that happen later on with Max Lord). The issue ends with Max asleep in his hospital bed, clutching a Justice League pager.

This was a good issue, certainly “A” material. Just a little light on Captain Atom. He seemed to get shoved off to the side a lot, at least until the Justice League Europe series. It was a good issue for Mr. Miracle fans, though. I’m still a huge fan of Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire.

The Millennium crossover event began on September 15, 1987 with the publication of Millennium #1. The first week it crossed over into Firestorm #67, Flash #8, Outsiders #27, Wonder Woman #12, and Justice League International #9. It began with the Guardian of the Universe known as Herupa Hando Hu and his consort, the Zamaron, Nadia Safir arriving on Earth and announcing that they want the super-heroes of Earth to protect a group of Chosen humans – a group that will help to usher in a new era of humanity. Each hero then realizes that someone close to them is a sleeper agent of the Manhunters (a race of robots that were created by and oppose the Guardians of the Universe). In Captain Atom #10, we learned that Harry Hadley, a high-ranking member of Project Captain Atom, was a Manhunter agent.

This issue of JLI begins with the Justice League flying to their Paris embassy after having met with Herupa Hando Hu and Nadia Safir at the Green Lantern Citadel in California. Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Booster Gold, and Martian Manhunter are flying alongside the JLI shuttle, which is carrying Blue Beetle, Mr. Miracle, Rocket Red #7, Black Canary, and Batman.

Just as Rocket Red addresses everyone on board the shuttle, Beetle and Miracle notice that the controls aren’t responding and they are on autopilot. Rocket Red wastes no time in telling his team-mates that he is a Manhunter. He has been studying them all and would like them to join his group. Batman seems quite taken aback by this proposal.

Back at the New York embassy, Oberon informs Captain Atom that he’s lost contact with the shuttle. They were heading for Paris but their trajectory seems to be aiming them towards the Middle East now. Cap takes off to check it out while Oberon says he’s calling back-up.

On the shuttle, Rocket Red is trying to convince the JLI that the Guardians are liars and manipulators who are tampering with the fate of the universe. Batman still isn’t buying this b.s. Mr. Miracle, meanwhile, has sneaked around behind Rocket Red and is tampering with his battle suit with a screwdriver. Blue Beetle fogs a window of the shuttle with his breath and writes “help” in it with his finger, hoping the league members outside will see it.

Clearly, the JLI isn’t going to join the Manhunters. Rocket Red removes his visor to reveal his true face beneath.
Mr. Miracle is knocked back by a shock from Rocket Red’s armor. Black Canary again asserts their refusal to join the Manhunters. Rocket Red pounces on Blue Beetle. Outside the shuttle, Guy Gardner sees the ruckus through a window and assumes Beetle and the others are just joking around. The melee causes Red to slightly lose his control over the shuttle, and those outside are finally clued in to what is going on because of the shuttle’s erratic movements.

Rocket Red flies out of the shuttle, sealing the hatch behind him. From atop the shuttle, Red begins blasting at J’onn, Guy, and Booster. He tells them if they don’t leave, he will detonate his armor, killing everyone on the shuttle. To make matters worse, Booster notices they are flying into Bialian airspace. That must be one hell of a craft, to get them from California to the Middle East in such quick time, and never flying over the ocean (unless the story began while they were over Spain or something… I guess that is conceivable…).

Red’s plan is evidently to kill the JLI anyway, as he is aiming for an oil refinery. He says that the Justice League will be disgraced when it is discovered they caused an incident like this in Bialya. The shuttle plummets closer and closer to the refinery until it suddenly stops short and Rocket Red flies from the roof and into the refinery himself. The shuttle was caught and held back at the last second by the rest of the Rocket Red Brigade (real Russians and not Manhunters).

Captain Atom shows up, too late to help. Guy is containing the fire with his ring. Rumaan Harjavti (despotic ruler of Bialya) shows up, threatening to notify the Soviets of the JLI breaching his country’s borders for a second time. A Rocket Red points out to Harjavti that his Soviet allies are already aware, which shuts him up.

The skeletal, robotic remains of Rocket Red #7 emerge from the wreckage. He has one missile left and intends to use it. When he fires, it does no damage because Booster Gold surrounded the Manhunter with a force field. Harjavti orders them off his soil, and Batman remarks they are going to have trouble from the dictator some day. J’onn suggests that the League members with families and loved ones should return home to find out if they, too, have been infiltrated by the Manhunters.

In New York, at the Lord Building, Maxwell Lord is watching Manhunters reveal themselves to super-heroes around the country via his monitors. He and his supercomputer are working on the problem when his assistant, Ms. Wootenhoffer, enters his office. She shoots Lord, saying, “No man escapes the Manhunters,” as she does so. Then Max Lord’s supercomputer retaliates off-panel. It seems gruesome.

There is another backup story in this issue that again features Jack O’Lantern and a meeting he has with Rumaan Harjavti just moments before Rocket Red #7 crashed in his refinery.

Well. This really should have been in the Cameo Appearances section of this blog. Captain Atom was only in four panels. I guess I thought it should get the whole review treatment because Cap’s officially a Justice League team member now. Again, this is beautifully drawn and written. There were a few funny quips. I wish they’d utilized Cap more. He has yet to live up to his full potential with the League. Still, I give this an A.

Before I get too deep into this, let me just put a little disclaimer here. Despite what the words below might indicate, I really liked Giffen & DeMatteis’ take on the Justice League. It was funny. It was fresh. It was really really good. And it was my introduction to the Justice League (unless you include the Super Friends). What I don’t like – and it is really such a minor quibble – is what a dork Captain Atom was in these early issues. When he went on to lead Justice League Europe (by the same creative team), he was a lot less of a doofus. But I have to admit, dork doofus Captain Atom or not, this was a great issue. It is, in fact, the first Justice League book I ever purchased. It hit the stands on September 8, 1987 with a cover price of 75 cents.

It begins with an episode of Jack Ryder’s Hot Seat. I have a hard time taking Mr. Ryder seriously, because he’s also the Creeper. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I think the Creeper is one of DC’s goofiest characters (right up there with Lobo, Gnort, ‘Mazing Man [whom I adore], and Ambush Bug). He’s not happy about the Justice League’s new “international” status and believes the “costumed buffoons” are probably blackmailing the United Nations. Well, isn’t he a ray of sunshine?

A crowd has gathered outside the new JLI New York embassy. Locals hope to catch a glimpse of a super-hero. One guy claims he saw Captain Marvel (better known as Shazam these days [don’t get me started]). A team of movers is unloading a truck full of furniture and crap (it would have been cheaper and easier if the heroes had done this themselves, but Max Lord never shied away from spending money frivolously).

Inside, one of the movers (wearing a S.T.A.R. Labs cap), is getting directions from Martian Manhunter on where things go. The mover asks about a crate of Oreo cookies. Martian Manhunter says they are his; Captain Marvel introduced them to him and he quite enjoyed them. He says Martians do eat just like humans; in fact, Mars had a McDonalds and Burger King long before Earth did. Even though he was usually the most “serious” character in the JLI, the Manhunter from Mars did crack a joke once in a while. He carries a crate up the stairs, clearly showing off for the movers. But he misjudges his weight combined with the crate and crashes through the floor.

When he crashes back down to the first floor through the hole he created, Martian Manhunter plays it cool to the only witnesses, Captain Atom and Mister Miracle. I don’t like the hairstyle they’ve given Cap, but it is more in line with his military background.

Captain Atom, feeling pretty useless around Mr. Miracle, searches for a way to help set up the security system. Finding two dangling power cords – one male and one female – Cap connects them. This results in an instant explosion. Captain Atom then “reflexively” blasts the offending security system. He tries to smooth things over, saying that setbacks like this bring people closer together. But there’s no covering up the fact that he was and idiot who did an idiotic idiot thing. Mr. Miracle storms out in a huff, leaving Cap to explain to Martian Manhunter what happened.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Batman and Green Lantern Guy Gardner show up at their new JLI embassy. The guards that greet them say Gardner is an enemy of the state and is not welcome. Batman says he can control Guy, who has no idea why he’s unwanted in the Soviet Union (this is the brain damaged amnesia Guy Gardner). Rocket Red #7 touches down and vouches for Guy and Batman. Batman enters the embassy to check on the progress of the security system’s installation. When Guy joins him, Batman asks the Green Lantern to sweep the embassy for bugs. Batman has already found a handful of them. The JLI’s Moscow embassy chief and government liaison Boris Dmitravich Razumihin arrives and Batman demands an explanation for the bugs. Boris says it was a mistake that he will correct, but clearly it was not.

Back in the U.S., Mr. Miracle arrives at a S.T.A.R. Labs facility where a resident scientist leads him into a storage room. Whatever it is Mr. Miracle sees there awes and pleases him.

In Paris, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are out of costume and sitting at an outdoor café. They’ve ducked out on Black Canary for a bit to hang out and pick up women. Booster locks eyes on a beautiful, tall, black-haired woman in the café. Booster approaches her, full of confidence. 45 seconds later, he and Beetle are walking away, Gold having completely struck out. Beetle laughs himself all the way back to the embassy.

When they arrive (back in costume), Black Canary chews them out for ditching her. Blue Beetle is still laughing. Booster leaves the room, and bumps into Catherine Cobert, the league’s Paris bureau chief. She is the same woman Booster Gold hit on at the café. She doesn’t seem to recognize him. However, when Black Canary introduces Catherine to Blue Beetle, her responds with a hearty “bwah-ha-ha.”

Back in New York, Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter, and Oberon are admiring the fact that their embassy is up and running. Mr. Miracle arrives in a brand new S.T.A.R. Labs shuttle. One of the movers points out that if he tries to land on the roof, he will cause it to collapse. And that is exactly what Mr. Miracle does.

Later, when the heroes have all returned to the New York embassy and are enjoying some milk and Oreos, courtesy of J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter), Blue Beetle is regaling them with the tale of Booster’s failure. Guy says Beetle is being cruel. Mr. Miracle is assuring J’onn that the shuttle wasn’t damaged (the roof, on the other hand…). Oberon rushes in and tells them their first assignment is ready. A “bunch of super powered lunatics” are running around Bonn, Germany. They hurry off and the story closes with the text, “To be continued — in the pages of DC’s greatest crossover series ever: Millennium #1.”

Greatest crossover series? I guess a case could be made. I don’t agree though. It wasn’t horrible.

This issue also contains a back-up story featuring Jack O’Lantern of the Global Guardians by the same crew but with Keith Giffen doing the pencils. I’m not a great fan of Giffen’s artwork but it isn’t the lousiest I’ve ever seen.

Justice League International #8 was a very fun book. Once I read it, I was hooked on the series and stayed with it until issue #24. Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon were a great team and Giffen & DeMatteis are equally awesome. I’m not crazy about the way Captain Atom was drawn or portrayed in this issue, but I still give it an A+.

I always wonder if I should write it as “Boo$ter Gold.” Spellchecker doesn’t like it that way. Guess I’ll just conform and drop the dollar sign. But I wonder if he was a British super-hero, would his name be something like “£eonard Gold?”

*

This is, obviously, not a Captain Atom book. He is simply a guest star, as the newest member of the Justice League (he was added to the roster of Justice League International the same month this came out, in Justice League International (vol 1) #7). As he really only appeared at the end of that book, posing with the other League members for a photo, this issue of Booster Gold is the first time we’ve seen Cap as a working member of the Justice League. Prior to this, he was leader of the Sentinels of Justice, but that continuity was erased by Crisis on Infinite Earths.

*

The story opens with Booster Gold stranded in another dimension and facing a choice. Save the life of his sister Michelle (aka Goldstar) or the lives of 30,000 people on Earth. The alien, Rangor, is holding Michelle captive as a grey horned giant is set loose in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. As Booster throttles Rangor, his robot companion Skeets reminds him that they came to Dimension X to prevent an invasion and that the invasion has begun. Booster hesitates, then knocks Rangor out and heads into the gateway to Earth. He sends Skeets to find his sister.

*

Booster is deposited underneath the Metrodome, and blasts straight upward into the stadium itself. The creature rips open the roof and emerges out into Minneapolis. Booster throws himself at the creature but finds it has the consistency of putty and he does no damage. Meanwhile, Skeets has found Goldstar. She is very weak and would be dead if not for her costume’s magnetic powers. Skeets frees her from her bonds.

*

As the monster crashes through downtown Minneapolis, Booster realizes his futuristic weapons seem to have no effect on it. This is when Justice League International shows up, to whom Booster says, “About time you guys got here.”

Responding to Booster’s call for Justice League help are Mr. Miracle, Martian Manhunter, Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Black Canary, and Rocket Red. Four of them that are capable of flight (Cap, Martian Manhunter, Rocket Red, and Mr. Miracle) dive into the fight with Booster.

*

The creature blasts energy beams out of its eyes, which don’t hurt Cap, Booster, and Martian Manhunter but blow Mr. Miracle and Rocket Red back (along with Blue Beetle’s bug, which carries Beetle, Canary, and Gardner). Ugh, too many characters. Guy Gardner seems like he should be on the front lines. His ring is, after all, the most powerful weapon in the universe. But this is during that brief time period after Batman hit him on the head and he became a gentle pacifist.

Down at street level, the other heroes begin rescuing innocents while still trying to bring the creature down. Martian Manhunter remarks, “…It’s able to absorb even my mightiest blows.” Mightiest blows? Who talks like this? Martians, I guess. Just when the League is trading quips on how to best dispose of Guy Gardner, the creature rabs Cap and throws him against a building, knocking him out. (Captain Atom has been knocked out cold so many times since 1960, it’s a wonder he doesn’t have permanent brain damage.)

*

After being almost smooshed by the creature, Rocket Red, Martian Manhunter, and Booster Gold concentrate their fire at it’s face (MM fires psionic blasts from his eyes). The creature fires back, appearing to vaporize the trio. But no, they were pulled out at the last second by Mr. Miracle and Captain Atom (who was unconscious for a remarkably short amount of time).

*

Back in Dimension X, Rangor is watching the battle in Minneapolis unfold on a monitor. Skeets and Goldstar lurk in the shadows. Meanwhile, at Booster’s mansion, a shadowy figure on a computer transfers money from a Swiss bank account. This is an ongoing subplot that ties into Millenium.

*

In Minneapolis, Captain Atom uses his quantum blast powers to bore a hole into the monster. Booster Gold flies into the hole and begins expanding his force field. The creature expands until it bursts, leaving it’s gray putty gore all over the streets of downtown Minneapolis.

*

Meanwhile, Goldstar has been discovered. The aliens beat her down and get ready to kill her when Booster appears and blocks their blasts. Rangor tells them all their efforts are in vain. He has an army poised to pass through a much larger gate, ready to invade and conquer Earth. Goldstar and Booster book it to the chamber where the invasion force waits. Booster has a moment of self-doubt, thinking he should have sent his sister home; she needs medical attention. Skeets advises Booster to overload the sphere above the army from which they draw their power. Booster does this, and it weakens the entire structure. He scoops up his sister and flies back toward the gateway.

*

The gateway is set to receive rather than send. Goldstar hurries to the controls to reset it and is hit with an electrical cable. Booster sees her struck as he is propelled through the gateway. It spits him out under the Metrodome again and then it explodes. Out of the wreckage, Booster finds a scrap of his sister’s costume, knowing instantly that this means she is dead.

Twenty-four hours later, off the coast of Maine, a memorial service is held for Goldstar. The Justice League is in full attendance now, including Dr. Fate.

Fate sends the hovering grave marker of Michelle Carter into “a different realm,” where it will be “forever safe from the ravages of time.” Booster says his goodbye to his sister via internal monologue.

*

So, Captain Atom’s appearance here is really just a cameo, but it was a really important cameo because it was the first time we saw him in action as a member of the Justice League. He remained a member – sometimes leading different branches of the League, sometimes lurking in the background – until at least 2011 (a decent 24-year run). This issue of Booster Gold was well-written and drawn. An important issue for Booster Gold fans, I’m sure. If I remember correctly, Michelle “Goldstar” Carter came back to life eventually (as most dead super-heroes do). When this came out, I didn’t give it a second glance. Since then I’ve begun a fan of Dan Jurgens’ style. And he’s a package deal, writing and drawing. This is A material.

I certainly hope you weren’t too attached to the Injustice Captain Atom. He went all Kingdom Come in this issue. But he went down swinging.

Picking up where Injustice: Gods Among Us #31 left off, Batman’s crew is leaving the Fortress of Solitude when Superman comes home and throttles Captain Atom. The Kents assure him they’re okay and to let Cap go. But Cap is far too pissed himself to just let this go.

The battle shakes the walls of the fortress and as a result Green Arrow ends up trapped inside with the Kents. Black Canary can’t free them with her sonic scream because it may cause more damage. Batman assures Arrow that they will come back for him. Meanwhile, Captain Atom continues to school Superman.

Cap is telling the bleeding man of steel that, orders or not, he’s going to take Superman down. Then Wonder Woman steps in and puts a magic sword to Cap’s throat that punctures Cap’s shell. Which is not good news for anyone.

Captain Atom’s shell (not specified if it is an alien alloy in this reality) keeps all his nuclear stuff inside. As in Kingdom Come, if the shell is ruptured, Cap goes critical and takes the surrounding area down with him.

Captain Atom realizes he’s doomed and decides to take Superman with him. He drags Supes up into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Wonder Woman follows.
Superman blasts Cap with his heat vision just as Atom goes critical.

Captain Atom appears to be dead. Wonder Woman is most likely injured but alive. Superman is most likely alive as well. I think we may find in future issues that Cap’s death was in vain. As in The Dark Knight Returns, this whole mess is going to have to come down to Batman versus Superman. Nightwing and Captain Atom are just collateral damage.

It is sad to see Captain Atom die again, but his departure from this series was much more satisfying than the New 52 Cap’s departure from the DC Universe (and time will tell on that one; he might resurface). Again, Tom Taylor has told an engaging tale and Jheremy Raapack has backed it up with superb artwork. I’m giving this issue an A+. Well done, folks.